India’s Concert Boom Has A Problem

Dear Reader,

Last week, I made a quick trip to Chandigarh to attend a concert by Punjabi singer Karan Aujla. My friend had bought tickets months ago, and though I had other commitments that weekend, I couldn’t say no. That, and of course, I was excited to watch him perform.

We knew parking would be a hassle, so we left our car about a kilometre away from the venue. But our troubles didn’t end there. As we waited in line to enter the venue, a cricket stadium, a scuffle broke out between cops and attendees. I didn’t see it directly, but I heard police lathis for a brief few seconds.

Eventually, we got in. The stadium was packed. Over 75,000 people were there, as I later found out. My anxiety took over. What if there was a stampede? I even picked out a spot I’d run to with my companion, just in case.

But once the show started, the worry subsided. I had a great time. I didn’t want it to end.

Kaushani, who attended the John Mayer concert in Mumbai last month, didn’t feel the same way. She says she enjoyed the music, but felt “a sigh of relief” when it ended.

That’s partly because the organisers changed the date at the last minute. She couldn’t get a refund on her flights or hotel, and ended up spending nearly Rs 50,000 for a single evening.

India’s concert economy is buzzing. Industry estimates peg the organised live events market at around Rs 20,000 crore.

But the truth is, we don’t yet have the infrastructure to support shows at this scale.

“The biggest issue is a lack of venues,” said Samit Garg, president of the Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA). Organisers also have to navigate multiple licenses, making execution more complex.

And then there’s safety. Even as the government pushes the concert economy, there are no clear, standardised rules for safety, said Rafael Pereira, co-founder of TINNUTS, which advises artists and organisers.

Despite all these challenges, the space is growing. This year, more global artists are coming to India: Shakira, Kanye West and Calvin Harris.

So what’s going on here?

To learn more, check out the latest episode of The Signal Brief. You can find The Signal Brief on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Thank you once again for listening and supporting us. We’d love to hear from you; write to us at [email protected] or find us on Instagram or X at @thesignaldotco.

Best,
Kudrat
on behalf of The Core

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